Former President Jacob Zuma’s newly articulated support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara is a sharp departure from his previous statements in that regard, made on several occasions during his addresses to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The new position of Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party is more closely aligned with the United States, several Western and African states that have voiced support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
SABC News’ Sherwin Bryce-Pease also reports on the current status of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, which was established in 1991, and the geopolitical stalemate that has since ensued.
In April of 1991, the UN Security Council passed a resolution to establish the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, with the said referendum on self-determination expected to be held the following year – a vote that has never taken place despite the word “referendum” literally in the name of the said peacekeeping mission.
The long-running conflict, dating back to the mid-1970s, has pitted Morocco, which considers Western Sahara to be its own territory, against the Algeria-supported Polisario Front, which seeks a separate, independent state.
And, while this stalemate has played itself out, the Security Council has renewed the mandate of MINURSO annually.
An MK Party document titled “A Strategic Partnership for African Unity, Economic Emancipation and Territorial Integrity” expresses support for Morocco’s position on the matter of Western Sahara based on what it views as Morocco’s historical legitimacy in the region.
This position is a seismic departure from earlier statements put forward by Zuma in his capacity as President of the Republic, here in 2013 at the United Nations. “As we celebrate our freedom and democracy, we remain mindful that our struggle is not complete until the people of Palestine and Western Sahara enjoy their right to self-determination. In the same manner that the United Nations stood by South Africa, we would like to see this organisation being at the forefront of efforts towards self-determination for the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara.”
In 2014, he referred to occupation and colonialism in the context of Western Sahara.
“We will continue to support the struggles for freedom and self-determination, including the struggles of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara who continue to experience occupation and colonialism of different forms.”
In 2015, Zuma used the UN platform to again make the case on behalf of Western Sahara. “We reiterate our support of the people of Western Sahara and urge the international community to support their struggle for self-determination, freedom, human rights and dignity.”
In 2017, invoking the memory of former ANC President Oliver Tambo to make the case.
“If OR Tambo were still alive today, he would have pleaded with this august organisation to do all it can to support the struggle of the Palestinian People from occupation, and also to support the struggle of the people of Western Sahara. (cut) We also wish to remind the General Assembly that the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination continues to be undermined, challenged and denied. The United Nations must remain seized with this issue, for the benefit of the people of Western Sahara and the African aspirations of integration and peaceful coexistence.”
His current position and that of the MK Party appears more closely aligned with that of the United States and several western and African nations including Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and the Gambia among others that have voiced support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and for Rabat’s proposal that would grant some autonomy – establishing a local legislative, executive and judicial authority elected by Saharawi residents while Morocco would retain control over defence, foreign affairs and religion.
The position of the Polisario Front and that of the South African Government is that the original plan for a referendum to determine the future of the region goes ahead, with full independence as an option.
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